General News
4 June, 2025
All aboard new exhibition
AN upcoming exhibition at Gallery 127 in the historic Avoca Railway Station building marks the gallery debut of a fascinating woman who has found purpose and peace through painting.
The work of Clunes-based artist Lyn Thomas will be on display throughout June at the popular boutique gallery in a showcase called Nature Melody, with an official opening event slated for Saturday, June 7 at 2pm.
The humble artist was surprised this week to get a call from The Pyrenees Advocate, initially a little shy about promoting the upcoming exhibition.
“Oh, I’m sorry, I haven’t done any of this before,” Lyn exclaimed with a slightly nervous laugh before settling into the conversation.
When asked if painting was something she’d always done, Lyn composed herself and opened about the cathartic journey art has taken her on in the years since her family experienced a devastating loss in 2006.
“No, it’s not,” Lyn said, “I took it up a year after our youngest son died of cancer.
“His name was Chad and he was 34.”
As Lyn worked through her grief following the loss of Chad, she decided to explore new forms of self-expression, ultimately inviting a whole new element of positivity into her life.
“After about a year I needed something else to focus on.
“I got sick of reading, sick of doing crosswords and that sort of thing after work.”
It was the influence and encouragement of creative friends that led to her trying her hand at painting.
“Friends came for about a week’s holiday with us and they were both painters and they said ‘OK, we’re gonna get you some paints’ so that was the start of my journey.”
Lyn’s art is so much more than a hobby, instead it has become a vehicle for creating positivity in the wake of her tragic loss.
“I feel that if we hadn’t lost Chaddy I would never have even thought about art.”
The support and camaraderie that comes from being involved with community art groups opened a whole new world of possibilities for Lyn.
“Over the years I’ve joined three lovely art groups, not where we’re taught, just where we sit around and help each other type of thing.”
Lyn and her husband moved to the Clunes area four years from the Bellarine Peninsula and immediately she found herself feeling right at home with the local artist’s group.
As her body of work grew, art group members began to encourage her to submit paintings for display in galleries.
“I’d shrugged it off but then my sister-in-law said to me ‘get them out from under the bed, people need to have a look at them,’” she said.
After some more prodding from her local art group, Lyn mustered up the courage to approach Gallery 127 about putting on an exhibition.
Lyn expressed gratitude for the opportunity to share her work with the public and spoke of the benefits that art galleries bring to regional communities.
“I think it’s really important. It gives another avenue of thinking about things.
“I was brought up in a rural community, Dad was a farmer and we did a bit of art at school but as for looking at it or seeing the variety, you don’t, so these galleries are terrific for that aspect of thinking.
“People go through there and it gives them another avenue of thought, and I think it’s really great.”
When asked about what else she’d like to share about her upcoming exhibition, Lyn expressed her desire to see people take the time to enjoy Avoca.
“Go and enjoy the town because it’s a lovely little town, there’s lots to see, beautiful walks by the river.”
Nature’s Melody by Lyn Thomas can be seen at Avoca’s Gallery 127 in the historic Railway Station building, 13-15 York Street, Avoca from June 6 to 30.
Read More: Avoca